Your FAQs

Broadly speaking, any individual within mountain or cave rescue, including family members, who have suffered physical, psychological or financial hardship as a result of their involvement with mountain and cave rescue. If in any doubt about what we cover, please just email secretary@rescuebenevolent-fund for clarification.

Request an application form via secretary@rescuebenevolent.fund or download the application form from the Resources section. We ask that you complete the form as fully as possible, and that this is supported by a mountain or cave rescue official. Sign and return the completed form to the Secretary.

Please note that the application form can be completed by someone other than you (the applicant), if this is appropriate and helps facilitate the process.

The Fund supports three broad categories — Physical Rehabilitation, Psychological Support or Financial Support — and we are happy to consider applications which combine elements of all three. Simply tell us what you are looking for and the Trustees will consider what we can offer.

We aim to make an initial evaluation within two working days of receiving your application. The time frame for a final decision will depend on the complexity of your case and the level of supporting documentation we might need — the Secretary will keep in touch throughout the process, and advise when you can expect a decision.

In all cases, we reserve the right to request the assistance of experts where we feel we do not have sufficient expertise to reach a considered judgement.

Yes. Whether your application is for physical, psychological or financial support, we may decide to offer you an interim support grant, where there is an immediate need but insufficient time to allow for us to fully assess the facts. Any such payment is made on the understanding that it may be 100% repayable by the recipient. This would apply, for example, if you are also making a claim against an insurance policy which may take longer to pay out.

If your application is for support with financial hardship, this may or may not require repayment. We will usually also request relevant documentation to support any such application.

No. We take each claim on its own merits. There is no upper limit, but the amount awarded is at the discretion of the Trustees following our consideration of any supporting information.

That said, we do have a Reserves Policy and must operate within the limits of funds available, relative to minimum levels required by the Charity Commission and our ability to continue to operate and this may have a bearing on any application assessments.

Of course, we want you to be as specific as possible, but any award made will be at the discretion of the Trustees. Besides looking at the circumstances of your application or the nature of hardship, we will also consider medical issues and any other insurance or benevolence claims.

Again, this will be at the discretion of the Trustees. An award may take the form of a short-term loan, in which case you will be expected to agree terms for repayment.

In the event of a false claim or failure to repay any agreed loan, we reserve the right to pursue the appropriate legal action to recover the charity’s money.

No. We require your signature, a supporting signature from a mountain or cave rescue official and your signed medical consent.

If an application is for physical and/or psychological care, we ask that you demonstrate that you have sought the advice of your GP, to ensure we have all the relevant medical information to hand when making a decision.

We may also be obliged to seek the advice of an appropriate healthcare professional, relevant to your application — for example, your GP, consultant or therapist/specialist — and we will give due consideration to their recommendation when making a final decision on any award.

You will be expected to undergo and complete treatment at one of our partner treatment centres or with the recommended therapist. You should be aware that, if we recommended a course of treatment at one of our partner treatment centres, you will also be required by them to submit a separate application and health assessment including information from your GP or health professional. Please be assured that we are happy to assist in that process to ensure it is as smooth as possible.

Yes. You should disclose any monies you receive from us when submitting any other claims, and vice versa.

In the case of physical and psychological support, wherever possible, we aim to pay the treatment centre and/or therapists direct so you don’t have to, and will liaise directly with them to this end. If payment has already been made by you, we would ask for evidence of such and repay your costs in accordance with any decision made regarding the level of support we can offer.

We expect you to complete the supported course of treatment within the timescale recommended by your appropriate health professional. Should there be no activity in drawing the awarded funding for six months after the award being granted, we reserve the right to review the situation and revoke the remaining portion of the award.

Any amount awarded should be deemed as finite. If further treatment is required beyond the original award, we are happy to work with you and the relevant health professional(s) to explore whether there are extenuating circumstances which require ongoing support.

If you feel that the Rescue Benevolent Fund has made an unfair decision, you must notify the Secretary within 14 days of the decision date. Once notified, the Trustees will meet within 21 days to review the complaint and establish whether there is any new evidence since the initial assessment, and decide whether the case should be reviewed. This may include requesting an independent assessment of the process and conclusions drawn. The Trustees’ decision remains final.